THE EVERGLADES The Everglades region is an example of a classic wetland bionetwork, containing vital plant and animal systems fundamental to the ecosystem of the ever-shrinking wetlands. The biology of the Everglades consists of a flummoxing interrelated web of abiotic and biotic factors. The abiotic factors, among others, consist of sunlight, rain and temperature in the environment while biotic includes the thriving population of American crocodiles, crayfish and herons. These thousands of minute ecological units all interconnect to form the biological wonder that is the Everglades wetlands.
BIOTIC FACTORS Crayfish Secondary Consumer -- Eats Periphytons Periphytons Primary Consumer -- Base of the food system. Food for small invertebrates, ducks, turtles and fish Blue Herons Secondary Consumer -- Fish American Crocodile Tertiary Consumer -- Fish and birds Freshwater Otter Secondary Consumer -- Fish and crayfish Snail Kite Secondary Consumer – snails and other invertebrates Grey Fox Tertiary Consumer – Birds, Invertebrates, fruits and berries, small mammals and reptiles Snake Secondary Consumer – small mammals and reptiles (lizards) Owl Tertiary Consumer – Small rodents Everglades Panther Tertiary Consumer – mammals Lynx Tertiary Consumer – mammals and other small creatures Fiddler Crab Decomposer – detritus Box Turtle Primary Consumer- herbivore Rodents Secondary Consumer- consists of mice, rats, shrews, squirrel, rabbits. Eat insects, invertebrates, nuts, vegetation. Pteridophyte Producer/Plant Gymnosperm Producer/Plant Monocotyledon Producer/Plant
ABIOTIC FACTORS Hardwood Hammock: A hardwood hammock is a dense stand of broad-leafed trees that grow on a natural rise of only a few inches in elevation. This is a flood block of sorts, acting as a natural levee. Also makes a natural moat to protect against fires using acids from decaying plant matter. Temperature Average Highs= 80-90 year round Average Lows= 60-70 year round Climate (precipitation, ect) Rarely cold Hot and humid Average rainfall is 60 inches (June-October) Sunlight Duration Approximation Year Round 6 AM – 5:30 Water Depth Maximum depth=17ft Wet Seasons= 50 miles wide IMPORTANCE OF WETLAND ENVIRONMENTS Wetland bionetworks are quintessential to the regulation of water flow in rivers, streams, and other concentrated bodies of water. This is because wetlands act as a natural water filtration plant, filtering pollutants, toxins and a myriad of other harmful materials that would be hazardous in our water. Wetlands also act as flood barriers in floodplain areas, slowing the velocity of the heavy rainfall. When this floodwater slows down they deposit silt into the wetland, preventing fish gill clogging and egg damaging silt for fish. Wetlands are also a vital nursing ground for many important animal species and migratory pit-stops for some migratory birds. If the decreasing wetlands disappear, the results would be devastating to the multi ecosystems that live in the wetlands which would have later repercussions in the rest of the animal kingdom. Also, the water would become more hazardous in some places, fish populations around residual destroyed wetlands would decrease, and floods would be uninterrupted and create more damage.
THREATS TO THE EVERGLADES The main threat to the Everglades ecosystem is the draining of water from surrounding areas that is then used for canals and ditches. 50% of the wetlands surrounding the national park area have been lost to agricultural developments. Invasive species that were introduced to the Everglades are the most damaging to the native species as they take food from them.
CONSERVATION PLAN
To save the wetland environment, we must take actions to remedy the three main threats; canals, agricultural developments and invasive species. To cure the excessive ditch making, the government of Florida should protect designated areas of the Everglades and put aside small parcels of land for farmers to use as ditch water. This plan could also act as a double-bladed sword, taking care of the extreme agricultural developments. Invasive species is a different matter. To cure this threat, we must find each invasive species’ main habitat and relocate/exterminate them. Also, they could introduce more of the native predators to eat the non-native creatures.
THE EVERGLADES
The Everglades region is an example of a classic wetland bionetwork, containing vital plant and animal systems fundamental to the ecosystem of the ever-shrinking wetlands. The biology of the Everglades consists of a flummoxing interrelated web of abiotic and biotic factors. The abiotic factors, among others, consist of sunlight, rain and temperature in the environment while biotic includes the thriving population of American crocodiles, crayfish and herons. These thousands of minute ecological units all interconnect to form the biological wonder that is the Everglades wetlands.
BIOTIC FACTORS
Crayfish
Secondary Consumer -- Eats Periphytons
Periphytons
Primary Consumer -- Base of the food system. Food for small invertebrates, ducks, turtles and fish
Blue Herons
Secondary Consumer -- Fish
American Crocodile
Tertiary Consumer -- Fish and birds
Freshwater Otter
Secondary Consumer -- Fish and crayfish
Snail Kite
Secondary Consumer – snails and other invertebrates
Grey Fox
Tertiary Consumer – Birds, Invertebrates, fruits and berries, small mammals and reptiles
Snake
Secondary Consumer – small mammals and reptiles (lizards)
Owl
Tertiary Consumer – Small rodents
Everglades Panther
Tertiary Consumer – mammals
Lynx
Tertiary Consumer – mammals and other small creatures
Fiddler Crab
Decomposer – detritus
Box Turtle
Primary Consumer- herbivore
Rodents
Secondary Consumer- consists of mice, rats, shrews, squirrel, rabbits. Eat insects, invertebrates, nuts, vegetation.
Pteridophyte
Producer/Plant
Gymnosperm
Producer/Plant
Monocotyledon
Producer/Plant
ABIOTIC FACTORS
Hardwood Hammock:
A hardwood hammock is a dense stand of broad-leafed trees that grow on a natural rise of only a few inches in elevation. This is a flood block of sorts, acting as a natural levee. Also makes a natural moat to protect against fires using acids from decaying plant matter.
Temperature
Average Highs= 80-90 year round
Average Lows= 60-70 year round
Climate (precipitation, ect)
Rarely cold
Hot and humid
Average rainfall is 60 inches (June-October)
Sunlight Duration Approximation Year Round
6 AM – 5:30
Water Depth
Maximum depth=17ft
Wet Seasons= 50 miles wide
IMPORTANCE OF WETLAND ENVIRONMENTS
Wetland bionetworks are quintessential to the regulation of water flow in rivers, streams, and other concentrated bodies of water. This is because wetlands act as a natural water filtration plant, filtering pollutants, toxins and a myriad of other harmful materials that would be hazardous in our water. Wetlands also act as flood barriers in floodplain areas, slowing the velocity of the heavy rainfall. When this floodwater slows down they deposit silt into the wetland, preventing fish gill clogging and egg damaging silt for fish. Wetlands are also a vital nursing ground for many important animal species and migratory pit-stops for some migratory birds. If the decreasing wetlands disappear, the results would be devastating to the multi ecosystems that live in the wetlands which would have later repercussions in the rest of the animal kingdom. Also, the water would become more hazardous in some places, fish populations around residual destroyed wetlands would decrease, and floods would be uninterrupted and create more damage.
THREATS TO THE EVERGLADES
The main threat to the Everglades ecosystem is the draining of water from surrounding areas that is then used for canals and ditches. 50% of the wetlands surrounding the national park area have been lost to agricultural developments. Invasive species that were introduced to the Everglades are the most damaging to the native species as they take food from them.
CONSERVATION PLAN
To save the wetland environment, we must take actions to remedy the three main threats; canals, agricultural developments and invasive species. To cure the excessive ditch making, the government of Florida should protect designated areas of the Everglades and put aside small parcels of land for farmers to use as ditch water. This plan could also act as a double-bladed sword, taking care of the extreme agricultural developments. Invasive species is a different matter. To cure this threat, we must find each invasive species’ main habitat and relocate/exterminate them. Also, they could introduce more of the native predators to eat the non-native creatures.
Original image: 'great-blue-heron_3'
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Original image: 'Lagostim de água doce (Procambarus clarkii)'
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File Name: 61456_Amoeba
Description: An illustration of an amoeba: n, nucleus.
Source: Benson John Lossing, ed. The New Popular Educator (London: Cassell & Company Limited, 1891) 6:184
Keywords: amoeba, cell, unicellular organism, ameba, amoebae
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